Jean Marc Pillot
I’m always chasing bottles that outperform their price tag, and Pillot’s lineup continues to deliver knockout value. I tasted with Antoine Pillot this past winter—he’s gradually taking over the reins from his father at their domaine just off the highway in Chassagne-Montrachet—and the 2023s were electric.
Spanning 15 hectares (plus five more from trusted growers), this domaine offers a masterclass in Chassagne terroir. Tasting there is like speed-dating a whole vintage—site after site, style after style. Most of the vines are in their prime at 25–30 years old, with some plots surpassing the century mark. That age, paired with obsessive farming and ultra-low yields, translates into wines with serious intensity, precision, and lift.
Their Chassagne 1er Crus stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the big names, yet somehow still fly under the radar. I live to pour these blind—they embarrass wines twice the price.
Today’s offer: A re-stock of two cellar stars— Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Vergers and Caillerets. The Caillerets hit a 500-foot home run. New stock lands in November.
*Pre Arrival
Pale primrose. Energy on the nose looking for finesse. A little more flesh on the palate, crunchy apples, good tension throughout and a fine long finish. This grows on me. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 91-94
Moderate reduction masks everything but a whiff of petrol character. On the palate though, there is good vibrancy and a lovely freshness to the very fine, though not particularly concentrated, flavors that do deliver solid length on the firm, balanced and youthfully austere finale. Despite the lack of better than average density, this is potentially quite good as well.
- Burghound, 89-92
*Pre Arrvial | Re-Load!
Pale lemon and lime. I am immediately struck by a sense of magical balance on the nose, nothing too overtly opulent but very nicely done. White apple and pear fruit with a little citrus rinse, impressive linear intensity, very long. Well made. Drink from 2028-2034. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 93-95
A wonderfully fresh and expressive nose freely reveals its aromas of mostly pear and apple that are nuanced by hints of citrus peel and acacia along with a similar touch of oak influence. There is impressive density and richness to the caressing medium-bodied flavors that possess slightly better depth on the clean, refreshingly dry and well-balanced finale. This well-made, firm and promising effort is aptly described as powerful yet elegant.
- Burghound, 91-93 Outstanding!
*Pre Arrvial | Re-Load!
An attractive mid lemon colour. Some depth to the fruit. Clean, clear cut fresh apple at the start, certainly entirely white fruit, nothing too sunny, yet with extra intensity further back, and a return of the stones. Finishes really well Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 92-94
A markedly floral-infused nose is laced with notes of pear, apple and citrus rind trimmed in just enough wood influence to notice. Once again there is a lovely texture, if barely average density, to the attractively vibrant flavors that exhibit solid persistence and reasonable depth on the clean, dry and nicely balanced finale that is firm enough to reward mid-term keeping.
- Burghound, 90-92
*Re-Load! Potentially the Best 1er Cru in the lineup
Pale lemon colour. Slightly richer than Vergers but still in its stony white fruit guise. An attractive generosity which adds flesh to the bones but does not come across as too sunny. Leaves a beautifully lingering finish of white fruit and stones. Drink from 2028-2035. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 92-95
Firm reduction blurs everything but a hint of exotic fruit. The super-sleek, intense and overtly stony medium weight flavors conclude in a compact, youthfully austere and impressively long finale. This is extremely primary at present and a wine that is absolutely going to need at least some patience but with that said, it's also exceptionally promising.
- Burghound, 91-94 Sweet Spot Outstanding!
